City of West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon Receives National Award for Universal Preschool Program at City Hall Ceremony

When the US Conference of Mayors (USCM) gathered in Dallas for the 82nd year in June, the City of West Sacramento’s Universal Preschool program, UP4WS (Up for West Sacramento) emerged as the mayors’ choice for the 2014 City Livability Award for cities with a population of under 100,000. The prestigious honor brought Sacramento Mayor, and USCM President, Kevin Johnson to the West Sacramento City Hall Galleria, Sept. 29, to present the award to Mayor Christopher Cabaldon. The award, sponsored by Waste Management, Inc. and the USCM, recognizes mayoral leadership in developing and implementing innovative programs that improve the quality of life in American cities. UP4WS was selected for this award by a group of former mayors from a field of over 200 applicants.

City Preschool Program Wins National Award - The City of West Sacramento's UP4WS preschool program was honored Sept. 29th, with the 2014 City Livability Award. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, President of the US Conference of Mayors, presented the award to West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon on behalf of UP4WS. Pictured, left to right, at the City Hall award presentation: City Manager Martin Tuttle, Councilmember Chris Ledesma, Councilmember Beverly Sandeen, Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, Assistant City Manager Carol Richardson, Early Learning Services Director Justine Jimenez, and Mayor Pro Tem Mark Johannessen.

Accepting the award on behalf of UP4WS, Mayor Cabaldon said, “West Sacramento has rapidly transformed from a neglected industrial town to a thriving, livable city, and Universal Preschool for West Sacramento gives our youngest residents and their parents the opportunity to create a future full of educational success and economic prosperity.” Mayor Cabaldon also thanked the program partners “who put kids first and turf aside, to achieve the impossible.” Program partners include State Preschool, Head Start, the City of West Sacramento Learning Ladder Preschool and Childcare Center, in addition to family and private childcare centers.

Following the efforts of Mayor Cabaldon’s Universal Preschool Task Force in 2003, UP4WS developed into a collaborative partnership between the City of West Sacramento, Washington Unified School District, the Yolo County Office of Education, First 5 California, and First 5 Yolo. The goal of UP4WS is to provide high quality preschool and childcare for children from birth to entry into kindergarten. The program annually serves 450 to 600 children under the age of 5. In the program’s first nine years, children attending UP4WS preschools are demonstrating consistent growth in the areas of pre-literacy and language.